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The doors are locked at Harborside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Former employees of the facility located at the corner of Paca and Franklin streets in Baltimore said it officially closed last week. Only essential personnel are currently there.

Some of the 71 laid-off workers expected to have health care through the end of this month, but when they went to area pharmacies to get their prescriptions or to their doctors, they found their coverage ended last month.

"I personally found out about my insurance because I went down to get a refill on my insulin and they said that they put in for a whole group termination Aug. 31," said laid-off worker Deborah Odom.

Odom's notice of layoff advises her benefits would not end until Sept. 30.

Harborside, formerly known as Ravenwood, announced in August it was permanently closing. Nearly 70 patients were moved to other facilities.

A March inspection found numerous fire hazards and safety violations. It is the same facility the state shut down in July 2010 because faulty air conditioning left residents living in sweltering heat. After a $52,000 fine, Ravenwood Healthcare filed for bankruptcy in April.

"I think it's terrible," former employee Sandra Jarvis said.

Other former employees gathered outside the building Friday.

"We've been here taking care of these patients and coming in here every day, cold weather, hot weather, whatever and they threw us out like this," Jarvis said.

Jarvis has worked there for 18 years. She and her former co-workers said they are owed thousands of dollars in vacation and other benefits.

WBAL-TV 11 News contacted the parent company in Baton Rouge, La.

The chief financial officer said workers got paid for the work they did including overtime. She said in terms of personal time accumulated some has not been paid out. She said 90 to 95 percent of the revenue stream for Harborside was from Medicaid and Medicare and the goal is to pay the workers.

As for their health benefits, the chief operating officer said workers will get a notice to apply and get on Cobra.

The company officials said as funds due from Medicare and Medicaid come in they will try to make the payments, but workers owed money may have to file a claim with the bankruptcy court.